Cultivating Collectors- Learning to Love Art

Most young children love making art. It’s fun, messy, and uninhibited, just like them! Give a young child some paint and something to move it around with, and they’ll “go to town.”  All too soon, many children decide that they aren’t good at “art” and so ends any sort of interaction with art and other artists, outside the mandatory elementary school art room- if they are lucky. This my friends, will be a future blog post. 

Today, however, we are in the midst of February where hearts are ubiquitous, and words of love and valentines are shared. My poor kids were forced to make their own cards in elementary school. And, I didn’t realize at the time, that Valentine’s Day is the new Halloween, with mandatory bags of candy delivered with each Scooby Doo or Dora the Explorer card. But they survived, somewhat unscathed. My older son, Griffin did once beg me to bring in real cupcakes, NOT carrot cake!

Recently, Nate told me that he wants to buy a piece of art from a friend of his at the spring high school art show. How cool is that? A 15 year old who sees the value in collecting, hanging and supporting the work of an artist.  This may not be surprising since my sons have been around art since they were born. Nate received his first piece- a print by Dan Weldon delivered shortly after Nate was born, with a note on it- for your baby’s collection. The boys see Scott and I gift each other art that we have made or purchased for each other, from our travels, from art shows and galleries.  The walls of our home are filled with art, mine, others- people we know, some we don’t- but all we love.

Last year I had the opportunity to hear Joanna Beatty Taft, founder and director of the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, IN speak about creating the art center and revitalizing the neighborhood, offering exhibitions, studios and events for people of all ages. Joanna used the phrase cultivating collectors when she described fostering relationships,  supporting artists and patrons and offering art that is relevant, accessible and meaningful. She believes that the younger you start the better.

and I would add, it’s never too late.

 

I invite you to share the love- of art. Make it, buy it, hang it, love it.